British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Uneventful Match
His career development has plateaued in recent years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry battle to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the quiet became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.
